They still hold a playoff berth, but the Devils’ other vital signs look critical.

It has reached the point where they’re in danger of giving up more goals than they’ll score this season, something they haven’t done since 1988-89.

If that isn’t incomprehensible enough, John Madden saw something even scarier in last night’s 4-3 loss to the despairing Maple Leafs at the Meadowlands.

“A lot of guys aren’t on top of their games right now. Unfortunately, they’re a lot of our key players, and we need them,” Madden said.

He didn’t name anyone, but one probable suspect could be Martin Brodeur, who allowed two stoppable goals last night and has beaten only NHL-worst Pittsburgh in his last seven starts.

Brodeur was outplayed last night by Toronto’s Jean-Sebastien Aubin, who was making his first NHL appearance of the season. If Brodeur isn’t the best goalie in a given game, the Devils are bound to struggle.

“You can’t allow four goals and think you’re going to win all the time,” said Brodeur, who returned to action after sitting out Friday’s victory over Boston, ending his 31-start streak.

The loss left the Devils tied with the Canadiens, who beat Pittsburgh last night, for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. Both are three points clear of No. 9 Atlanta, all with 11 games left to play.

The Devils haven’t missed the playoffs since 1995-96, the year after their first Stanley Cup, but even then they scored more than they allowed. They suffered a 281-325 deficit in 1988-89, the only other time they missed the playoffs since their first visit in 1988. They have scored 200 goals this season and allowed 207.

Listless early, the Devils trailed 3-1 before mounting a furious but futile comeback late in the third.

Erik Rasmussen answered Chad Kilger’s opening goal, but Kyle Wellwood put Toronto back in front for keeps in the first, and Mats Sundin victimized Brodeur in the second for the Leafs.

Scott Gomez pulled New Jersey to within one at 2:24 into the third, rebounding Brian Gionta’s long slap for his 26th. Matt Stajan reopened the Leafs’ two-goal lead at 11:48 with the eventual winner, shooting between Brodeur’s pads on a left-wing rush after Paul Martin fell at center ice.

Patrik Elias connected 5-on-3 with 3:37 left to bring New Jersey back within one, but the Devils couldn’t equalize despite another two-man advantage and a pair of open-net shots.

“We were a half-second behind, mentally and physically, for whatever reason,” Lou Lamoriello said. “We didn’t seem to have our minds and legs going at the same time.